Opera 46 update hijacks default programs
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sunclad last edited by
Windows 10 Home X64
Opera version 46.0.2597.26When updating Opera for the last few versions it appears to be hijacking several defaults. I usually tell the downloaded update file to "accept and update" which I have come to understand will mean it respects existing settings. So far that is not the case.
The last few updates it is installing an Opera shortcut on the task bar, hijacking Adobe PDF files, mailto .eml files, and making itself the default browser. After each update I have massive cleaning and resets to do.
If this is now the default behavior for an "accept and update" this is a deal breaker. This had previously not been happening and was respecting end-user settings.
I seem to have missed if there is a bypass on this when updating and clearly that is not obvious from the installer. Is there one?
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burnout426 Volunteer last edited by
If the previous version was set as default when installed, the new update will reinstate those settings.
I'm assuming then that one has to edit/delete installation_status.json and or installer_prefs.json in the program files directory before the update?
Or, maybe it's something in the registry? (I only see "Previous Default Browser" in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Opera Software" and "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Opera Software", which I would assume is for restoring the previous default when uninstalling and not for installing.)
Or, does one have to uninstall Opera and reinstall without making it the default to make sure future updates don't try to reassociate?
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sunclad last edited by
OP here...
I had a different browser set as default. Opera was a back-up system. Opera was never set as the default browser.
This behavior seems to have started with the last 1-2 updates.
After updating Opera I have to go into the Win10 CP and reset the default browser there as well as a few additional file types as Opera also hijacks the default PDF reader which I had set to Adobe reader itself.
If you need to uninstall the resident version to avoid this, that is a problem.
The "Accept and Update" suggests that it will respect system settings and preferences. It is not from my experience. At the least it should ask me if I want to make it the default browser. It is not asking.
